Teapots

Aren't teapots adorable and friendly?  I am not a tea drinker, but these cute teapots make me what to convert.

Black and White

Funky Green

Green & Blue

Mosaic

Cream

Woodfired

Beyond the Baby Book

Are you religious about filling out your kid's baby books?  I am.  Everything in my girls' books are filled out except the first day of school pages and Bowbas's 3rd and 4th birthday party pages.  Once a month from 3 months to 24 months I would make notes in the back of the book.  "Took first steps this month! Loves to watch Dora and eat Gerber Puffs...." After 24 months I would make notes of bigger things like "Finally potty trained!!"  Once their books started filling up and I realized I wouldn't be able to make notes in the baby books forever, I decided there needed to be something else were their toddler through school aged year memories could be documented. 
I started journals for both my girls.  I try to write in them at least once a month.  Some months I just jot down new things that are going on with them.  Other entries include details of road trips, birthdays, holidays, etc.  When I started this...good grief 2 years ago!  Is my Teeter Bees really 4 already?  I wasn't sure what my purpose was, but last month Tuck and I read through the girls' baby books and journals.  We laughed and we cried.  We laughed at little memories like Bowbas's first sentence "shud da door" and we cried at the scary times like Teeter being rushed to the ER with a severe allergic reaction to an ant bite.
We looked at each other and realized that these are our daughter's lives right here in writing.  I have created something that they will be able to look at when they have kids.  They can remember all the fun and exciting things we did like going to Crump's Garden to see thousands of beautiful poinsettias or getting to enjoy 3 Easter egg hunts in one weekend!  And they can remember how Mama and Daddy took care of them during scary times like ant bites and breath holding spells.
Do you document your kiddos?  How? 

Cookie Cutters

I have been looking for something like this for years!  A make your own cookie cutter kit!  I know this sounds like unnecessary work when cookie cutters are only a few dollars, but sometimes I get ideas for different things that there just isn't a cookie cutter of.  Occasionally I come up with an awesome idea for cupcake toppers or cake decor that would be alot easier with a cutter, but you just can't find out.
Bake it Pretty has a make your own cookie cutter kit!  Check it out!

Lets Get Organized

When I was growing up, before school there was generally a knock-down-drag-out between clothes and at least one of the four of us kids.  We never picked out what we were going to wear the day before, and it was always "I have nothing to wear!" as we stood in front of a closet full of clothes.  Our mom NEVER let the laundry pile up, so we literally always had clean clothes.  Well I found this awesome organizer at onestepahead.com

What a great idea!  When we start school next year I plan on buying two of these!  One for each of my girls.  We can pick out the week's wardrobe on Sunday and be set for the week! I think this organizer is a great idea for any family with school aged kids.

Wordless Wednesday: Texas State Capitol Edition

Easy on the Ears

I love music.  All kinds of music. I absolutely love music and is easy to listen to.  Music that you can lay in bed, listen, and feel peaceful to.  Music that you can have in the background of a "perfect at home" kind of day. I've stummbled across  Timmy Curran.  His first album Citsuca is a short 6 track, acoustic, easy to listen to album.  You kind find it on itunes for $5.

Mommy Tips

When I was growing up, kids revolved around their parents' lives.  These days our lives revolve around our kids. While this is a good thing, I notice more and more mommies that forget about themselves.  More often than not this leads to some form of break down.
It's ok to think about you!
You are not being selfish!
So here is my Mommy Tip for the day...

Create a bucket list.
Add to it always...
Add things that you do alone...

Add things that you do with your kids...

Add things that you do with just your spouse...

Add things that you can do at home...

Add things that you have to get out and do...

Add things that are easy on your pocket book and easy to accomplish...

Like taking a cooking class with your girl friends

But also add things that you might have to save up to do...

And do them!
Don't create your list and leaving it hanging on the wall, get out there do it!

If you need help thinking of things to add you your list, here are some helpful hints...
-Pick up the book 1,000 Things to See Before Your Die
There is a world version and a US/Canada version.  I own both...
-Ask your kids for some ideas of things they might like to do with you
-Look into events happening where you live.  Our downtown is constantly hosting family friendly events.
-Think of things you have always wanted to do, and be ok with getting out of your comfort zone.
-Get a passport.  You'd be surprised how just getting your passport will really make you want to go somewhere!

Here are a just a few things off of my bucket list...
-Go to Prague with Tuck
-Take the girls to Disney
-Remodel our bathrooms
-Landscape my backyard into a magical place with smells and colors to die for
-Take a photography class
-Be the best mom and wife I can possibly be, every single day

Here are a few items I have accomplished off my bucket list...
-Go on a cruise with Tuck
-Enter into a cake competition
-Pay off our credit card debt
-Take Teeter to ride an elephant
-Make a quilt (I made 2!)
-Create a magical Christmas for my girls (it snowed and everything!)
-Create my family tree (and it's beautiful!)
so on..


What's on your list?